Abhay Deol on why one should take the road less travelled

I've been called the 'Face of Indian Independent Cinema'.

And it's a tag I love. People have very mixed notions about the ideals of Independent Cinema; everything about this kind of cinema need not go against the commercial norms.

Nonethe-less, I enjoy doing it and it challenges me to push harder.

It isn't really that I make a conscious decision to take on unconventional films, be it Dev D, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Manorama Six Feet Under or Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local. I do a film if I am excited about the character and the story.

One should be passionate about the dream one is pursuing. I'd rather play someone real who goes through obstacles and becomes a hero.

I've always believed that one should take a risk and go the distance. I'm not cut out to play a filmi hero.

I don't look like a hero. In fact, when I was young I thought I would head straight to Hollywood and I wouldn't even bother about trying in Bollywood.

I realised later that everything about Bollywood was correct - it was home, my family was here, it was the 'language' I was comfortable working in.

So I'm trying to make a space in my own country and culture. I'm an idealist, so I think the niche will eventually become the mainstream. If you really want to do something in life, you've got to go to the extreme.

Lots of people today are trying to break away from the norm. Don't be afraid to be original. Take your bet... take a call.